Mechanical igniter for signaling devices



Oct. 5, 1954 L, D. JAcKsoN 690311 I MECHANICAL IGNITER FOR SIGNALING DEVICES Filed July 1, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l f c l l fwwww L. D. JACKSON www @www Get, 5, 1954 L. D. JAcKsoN MECHANICAL IGNITER FOR SIGNALING DEVICES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 1, 194s Syvum/WM H am M Patented Oct. 5, 1954 UNITED STATS TENT OFFICE MECHANICAL IGNITER FOR SIGNALING DEVICES Leonard D. Jackson, Alexandria, Va.

Application July 1, 1946, Serial No. 680,782

This invention relates to a mechanical igniter and is particularly adapted for use on signalling devices such, for example, as a flare, smoke float or the like of the type adapted for use either on land or water.

The present invention provides al new and improved mechanical igniter which is adapted to be detachably secured to a signalling device thereby to ignite at will the pyrotechnic material arranged within the signalling device.

The present invention provides a new and improved igniter for a iiare, smoke signal and the like having a predetermined time delay between the operation of the iiring means and the starting of the pyrotechnie material arranged within the are or smoke signal.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a new and improved igniter for a signalling device in which the iiring pin of the igniter is retracted a predetermined amount before the firing pin is automatically released thereby to initiate firing of the pyrotechnic material contained therein.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an igniter for a signalling device in which new and improved means are provided for locking the firing mechanism thereof in a safe position thereby to prevent premature ring Vof the signalling device during handling and transportation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved igniter which is economical to manufacture, reliable in operation, and which possesses the qualities of durability and safety during handling and transportation.

Still other objects, novel features, and advantages will become apparent from the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view of a signalling device partly in section and partly in elevation and showing the igniter of the present invention secured thereto;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the igniter showingthe parts thereof in a safe or unarmed position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the upper portion of the igniter casing showing the operating element and ring plunger thereof in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the igniter in the armed position in full lines and also showing the ring position thereof in dashed lines;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 'I-T of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings for a more cornplete understanding of the invention, the igniter disclosed thereon is generally indicated by the reference character Ill and is adapted to be secured' to a signalling device I I of any well known type. While on Fig. 1 of the drawing the igniter is shown in connection with a marine signalling device it will be understood, however, that the igniter is adapted for use with either a marine or land type signalling device, as the case may be.

The signalling device comprises an outer cylindrical casing I2 composed of sheet steel or of any other material suitable for the purpose. The casing I2 is provided with upper and lower Walls I3 and I4 respectively, each wall having outwardly extending anges I5 and I6 adapted tc secure to the cylindrical casing I2 thereby to render the signalling device buoyant such that it is adapted to ride upon the surface of a body of Water. Secured to the casing I2 in any suitable manner is a stabilizer indicated by the reference i3 comprising a cylindrical member I9 and end wall 2l The walls I9 and 2l are provided with a plurality of openings 22 thereby to admit water to the stabilizing chamber 23.

The walls I3, I4 and 2i are each provided with a centrally disposed opening 24 therein, each Wall having outwardly extending flanges respectively surroundng each of the openings, the flanges are adapted to engage and support a tubular container 25. The container 2E is open at the upper end thereof thus providing means for lling the container with the pyrotechnic material 26 of any Well known type such, for example, as a smoke, light or coloi` producing mixture. l

The usual meltable disc or partition 2l composed of zinc or the like is pressed into the upper end of the container 25, the cover being secured to the container by bolts 29. The cover is provided with a centrally disposed opening SI surrounded by a iiange 32 adapted to receive and support an internally thereaded nipple 33.

The igniter of the present invention is attached to the nipple 33 in any suitable manner and comprises an elongated housing 3ft having an enlarged head 35 extending above the cover 28, and a reduced tubular casing 35 integrally formed thereon and extending into a heat and pressure chamber 31 provided in the upper end of the container 25. The housing 34 is also provided with a threaded portion 38 adapted to engage the internally threaded nipple 33 thereby to support the igniter on the signalling device in operative relation with respect to the pyrotechnic material 26.

The head is provided with oppositely arranged cutaway portions 39 adapted to receive a wrench or other tool suitable for the purpose, whereby the igniter may be `screwed into the nipple 33. It will be understood, however, that a sealing gasket 4I is disposed between a shoulder 42 formed on the housing 34 and the nipple 33 thereby to maintain a moisture proof connection therebetween and prevent deterioration of the pyrotechnic mixture 26.

A quantity of starter mixture 43 is arranged within the lower end of the bore 43 between a normally sealed vent disc 44 secured within the bore, and a combustible end wall 45 secured to the end of the housing 34 in any suitable manner preferably by crimping or rolling the Alower edge of the housing as indicated at 46, Figs. 2 and 4.

The vent disc 44 is composed of any material suitable for the purpose such, Afor example, as steel, brass or the like and comprises a body portion 4l having upper and lower iianges formed thereon and indicated by the reference character 48 and 49. The body portion 41 of the vent disc 44 is provided with a plurality of vent openings 5I normally sealed by any material suitable for the purpose such, for example, as a material known in the trade as "668 Starter and indicated as at 52. The vent disc 44 is secured Within the bore 49 in any suitable manner but preferably by having threaded engagement with the housing 34 as at 53. The ange 49 is provided with a plurality of slots 54 formed therein adapted to receive a wrench or any other tool suitable for the purpose for threading the vent disc 44 into the bore 45.

A tube 55 composed of any material suitable for the purpose such, for example, as aluminum, steel, brass or the like, is secured to the vent disc 44 in any suitable manner preferably by soldering or welding the parts together as indicated by the reference character 55, the tube being provided with a recess 51 in the upper end thereof for receiving and supporting a percussion -cap 58 therein.

A time delay fuse 59 is arranged within the tube 55, the fuse having a short length of quickmatch 6I secured in the upper end thereof and spaced a predetermined-distance from the percussion cap 58 such that ignition of the quickmatch will occur when the percussion cap is red. The time delay fuse 59 passes through a centrally disposed opening 62 provided in the vent disc 44 and extends a predetermined distance into the starter mixture 43, and is provided with a length of quickmatch 63 mounted ycrosswise therein by reason of diametrically opposite slits provided in the lower end of the fuse. The quickmatch is maintained in position within the fuse by a length of string or the like indicated by the reference character 64.

The tube 55 is provided with a restricted bore 55 which communicates with the recess 5'! therein, the bore 55 being arranged in such a manner with respect to the recess 57 in which the cap 58 is secured as to direct the flash therefrom when fired directly against the end of the quickmatch 5| thereby to fire the quickmatch and initiate ignition of the delay fuse 59. The tube 55 is also provided with a plurality of relief ports 5B adapted to permit the gases to escape therethrough thereby to reduce the pressure within the tube when the percussion cap 58 is red and as the quickmatch and time delay fuse burns thus preventing violent explosion of the confined gases within the tube.

A threaded recess El' is provided in the outer end of the head 35 of the housing 34 and is adapted to communicate with the bore 40.

An operating knob or handle generally indicated by the reference character 68 is detachably secured to the head 35 and comprises an enlarged serrated hand grip 59 connected to a flange member 7| by a neck portion 72. The ange member 59 has a reduced threaded nipple 13 formed thereon adapted to have threaded engagement with the recess 67 thereby to detachably secure the operating handle to the head and also to maintain the igniter in a safe or unarmed position, Figs. 2 and 3, during handling and transportation thereof. A shank 'i4 is integrally connected to the nipple i3 and extends a predetermined distance into the bore 4a, the shank having a pair of spaced lugs "l5 formed thereon, each lug being provided with cam surfaces l5, the purpose of which will be more fully described hereinafter.

A sealing gasket 'i5 composed of any material suitable for the purpose is disposed about the nipple 'F3 between the flange li on the operating knob, and the upper portion of the head 35 on the housing thus providing a moisture proof seal therebetween thereby preventing deterioration of the pyrotechnic materials contained within the housing 36.

A plunger 11 is slideably and rotatably arranged within the bore 45, the plunger comprising a f luted body 18, the upper end thereof being provided with a recess or cutaway portion 19, one wall thereof having a complementary cam surface 8l formed thereon and adapted to coact with the cam surface i6 on the lugs 'l5 thereby to release the plunger Tl from interlocking engagement with the knob when the knob 64 has been unscrewed from the head 35 and the plunger and knob have been moved a predetermined amount outwardly, Fig. 4. It will be understood, however, that when the plunger 1'! has been moved to the position as shown on Fig. 4 of the drawings, the knob is disengaged and the plunger will be free to move inwardly and will be forced to a firing position by the spring 8@ as also show-n in dashed outline. The cam surface l5 on the lugs 'l5 are adapted to coact with the cam surface 8| on the plunger in such a manner as to permit release of the plunger from the knob when the plunger has been moved to an armed position due to the pressure applied to the plunger by the spring 8!) and the cam action between the cam surfaces 75 and Si. The spring 8B surrounds the plunger and the respective ends thereof are in abutting engagement with a plurality of tabs 83 formed on the plunger and a shoulder 84 formed within the bore 45 of the housing 34.

The upper end portion of the plunger 'Il' is provided with a screw threaded bore 85 having threaded engagement with a firing pin 35, Ythe ring pin being provided with the usual striker B, Figs. 2 and e., The plunger is also provided with a centrally disposed opening or Vbore 38 extending therethrough into which the tube 5 5 extends thereby to provide a guide for the plunger 11 during the sliding and rotative movement thereof to an armed position. Y

It will be understood, however, that when the igniter le is desired to be red the operating knob 55 will be grasped by the operator and rotated a predetermined number of revolutions and, due to the interlocking engagement between' vthe plunger and knob, the rotation thereof will be mutual until the threaded nipple 13 has become disengaged from the recess :61 in the'housing 34.

When this occurs a direct outward pull is applie'd to the operating knob 68 by the operator Whereupon sliding movement is imparted to the plunger and the spring 80 is additionally contracted between the tabs 83 and shoulder 84. After the operating handle 68 has been moved a predetermined amount by the operator, the lugs T5 will become disengaged from the recess 19 in the plunger due to the pressure exerted on the plunger by the spring 8E and the action between the cam surfaces on the plunger and operating handle thereby releasing the plunger.

When the plunger is released, continued action of the spring 8B will urge the plunger to a ring position as shown in dashed outline, Fig. 4, with the striker 81 of the firing pin in operative engagement with the percussion cap 58 thus igniting the quickmatch Si mounted in the upper end of the time fuse 59 thereby to :cause ring of the time delay fuse 5i. After a predetermined period of time controlled by the time fuse has elapsed, the quickmatch 53 secured in the lower end of the fuse will be ignited thereby causing ignition of the starter mixture 43. As the starter mixture 43 burns, the heat generated therefrom will melt the material 52 which seals the openings 5I in the vent disc ifi thereby unsealing the openings 5! and allowing the gases generated by the burning mixture to escape therethrough into the bore above the disc. It will be understood, however, that the plunger 1'! is provided with a plurality of uted or grooved portions 92, Figs. 5, 6, and '7, to allow the free passage of gases through the bore 4E! in the housing 34 to the atmosphere, thus preventing a violent explosion from the confined gases within the housingduring the burning of the starter mixture.

As the starter mixture t3 continues to burn, heat and pressure generated therefrom will be suilicient to cause disintegration of the combustible end wall thereby allowing the hot slag produced by the burning of the starter mixture to escape through the now open end of the housing 35i and fall upon the zinc disc 21 causing disintegration of the disc and ignition of the pyrotechnic material 2t?. Sufiicient heat and pressure are now stored within the heat and pressure chamber 31 to melt the solder surrounding the usual sealing disc de on the container 25 thereby allowing the pressure within the chamber to blow off the disc es and unseal the usual exhaust ports 9| so that the smoke or light, as the case may be, produced by the burning of the pyrotechnic mixture 26 will escape through the ports 9i.

The many advantages of the igniter constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the foregoing description and drawings, and although a preferred embodiment of the device is illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and ar- Y rangement of parts may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

The invention disclosed and claimed herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. An igniter for a signalling device of the class described comprising a housing having a quantity of starter mixture arranged therein, igniter means arranged within said housing and adapted 75 to ignite said starter mixture, releasable iiring means rotatably and slideably arranged within said housing and adapted to be rotated a predetermined amount and slideably moved to an armed position, means detachably secured to said housing and releasably connected to said ring means for actuating the ring means to said armed position as the firing means is detached from said housing, means on said actuating means and including a gasket for hermetically sealing the housing until the actuating means is detached therefrom, resilient means operatively connected to said firing means for urging the firing means from said armed position to a ring position as the iiring means is released thereby to re the igniter means, a pair of complementary inclined cam surfaces arranged on the ringmeans and the actuating means respectively for releasing 'said iiring means as the actuating means is disengaged from the housing, means attached to said housing for supporting said firing means slideably thereon and said igniter means therein, said supporting means having a plurality of ports therein for allowingthe escape of gases therethrough as the igniter means is red, and means for attaching said supporting means to said housing and having a plurality of sealed ports therein, said ports being adapted to be unsealed by the heat from the starter mixture as the mixture burns thereby to relieve the gas pressure within the housing.

2. An igniter for a signalling device of the class described comprising a housing having a quantity of starter mixture arranged therein, a disc arranged within said housing and having a tube secured thereto, a percussion cap arranged within said tube, igniter means arranged within said tube and adapted to ignite said starter mixture, said tube having a plurality of openings arranged therein for venting the tube as the igniter means is red, releasable ring means arranged about said tube and adapted to be moved rotatably and slidably to an armed position, means detachably secured to said housing and releasably connected to said firing means for moving the ring means to said armed position and adapted to release the ring means when moved a predetermined amount, means on said detachable means and in abutting relation with respect to said housing for hermetieaily sealing the housing, and a resilient member surrounding said ring means for urging said firing means from said armed position to a firing position as the ring means is released thereby to re said igniter means, and means for releasing said iiring means.

3, In an igniter for a signalling device, in combination, a casing for said signalling device, an inner container supported by said casing and having a quantity of pyrotechnic material arranged therein, a closure for hermetically sealing said container thereby to form a heat and pressure chamber therein, a housing supported by said closure, a disc disposed within said housing and secured thereto by threaded engagement therewith, a tube secured to said disc in axial alignment therewith, igniter means arranged within said tube and disc, iiring means arranged about said tube and` within said housing and adapted to be moved slideably and rotatably to an armed position, means detachably secured to said housing and releasably connected to said iiring means for actuating the i'lring means to said armed position, means on said actuating means for releasing the firing means as the actuating means is detached from said housing, re-

silient means operatively connected to Said ring rmeans and adapted to urge said firingy means from said armed position to a ring position thereby to nre 'said igniter means and ignite said yrotechnic material as the firing means is released, yport means in said tube for venting the tube as said igniter mea-ns is fired, and a plurality of sealed exhaust devices in said inner container in communication with said heat and pressure chamber and adapted to be unsealed by said heat and pressure as the pyrotechnic man terial burns thereby to permit the escape of the products of combustion of the pyrotcchnic material.

An igniter for a signalling device comprisa housing having a quantity of starter mixture arr nged therein, an annular disc secured with in said housing adjacent the starting mixture, a tube secured to said disc in axial alignment there- With, 1 and said disc, a plunger slideably and rotatably arr ged about said tube and within said housing, a nl g pin secured within said plunger, a spring su roundi g said plunger and in engagement therewith for actuatinpf said plunger, an actuating member rotatably and detachably secured to 'l housing and releasably connected to said plunger, a hand grip on said actuating member for mori-ng the actuating member sufficiently to release said plunger against the force oi said when a predetermined. force is applied to Ved grip after the actuating member has stated suliciently to be detached from the i using, said igniter means includingl a percus n cap adapted to be fired by said iring pin as l"V nge; is released by said actuatine member eren; to icnite said starter mixture, and said disc having a plurality of openings arranged therein, meltable means for sealing said openings 1u the rter mixture burns thereby to prevent premature deterioration of the starting and permit the escape of gases there= the starting mixture burns. igniter for a signalling device of thc described comprising a housing having a il ture disposed therein, an annular disc arranged u thin said housing adjacent the starter n xture and having a tube secured thereto in ax al alignment therewith, a time dela-y ruse arranged vwithin said tube and said disc adapted to iire said starter mixture, a percussion secured within said tube and adapted to ignite the time delay fuse, a normally locked niter means arranged Within said tube Yfluted plunger slideably and rotatably arranged about the tube, a nring pin secured to the plunger, actuating means in threaded engagement with said housing and detachably secured thereto and to the plunger for normally locking the plunger in an initial safe position, means on said actuating means for moving the plunger from said initial safe position to an unlocked position and thereafter releasing the plunger when the actuating means and plunger have rotated suiiiciently to disengage the actuating means from the housing, and a resilient member on said :plunger for urging the firing pin into firing engagement with the percussion cap as the plunger is released.

6. An igniter for a signaling device of the class described comprising a casing, a quantity of starter mixture disposed within the casing, a disc seared to said casing adjacent the starter mixture for preventing deterioration of said starter mixture, a tube secured to said disc in axial alignment therewith, a percussion cap secured Within the tube, said tube having a plurality of apertures therein for ventinu the tube as said percussion cap is lred, a time delay fuse arranged Within s id tube and the disc for iii-ing said starter mix ture in time delayed relation with respect to the firing of said percussion cap, a plurality of sealed ports in said disc and adapted to be unsealed by the heat and pressure from the starter mixture as the mixture is ignited and burns thereby to :permit te escape of gases therethrough, a normally locked spring actuated plunger slideably and rotatably disposed about the tube for movement into ring engagement with the percussion cap when unlocked, and means including an actuating member in threaded engagement with the casing and detachably secured thereto and to the plunger for unlocking and releasing the plunger to said ring engagement with the cap when said actuating member has been rotated sufliciently to be disengaged from the casing and a predetermined force applied thereto.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 656,288 Wilson May 22, 1900 2,144,554 Sthyr Jan. 17, 1939 2,423,859 Van Karner July 15, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 347,180 Germany Jan. l5, 1922 

